Historial Jeanne d’Arc: the new Rouen museum not to be missed!

unique scenographic tour

A major figure of French history, Joan of Arc is a universal symbol that stirs an international interest much beyond France’s borders, extending to the outmost areas of Asia. Opened in 2015 in Rouen, the Historial Jean d’Arc is an interactive museum entirely devoted to the woman also known as “The Maid of Orléans” who died burned at the stake in the Normandie capital in 1431. We visited the museum and the experience is fascinating.

Joan of Arc’s story as if you were living it!

card from a deck (collection of Rouen’s Municipal library)

The Jeanne d’Arc Historial retraces the saga of Joan of Arc through a unique scenographic tour, with films that reconstitute her life, where visitors are totally immersed in Joan of Arc’s time, first reliving her trial by the inquisition, her conviction, and execution in 1431, until her rehabilitation in 1456.

Simply go in the screening room and watch the films, listen to the various key figures who surrounded her, without needing to read anything. The experience is everything but tedious, and the modern technologies are very efficient.

Just let yourself be carried away, and by the end of the visit, you will have the feeling of having traveled in time, and especially, you will leave with a clearer understanding of the incredible and complex destiny of Joan of Arc.

For more information, virtual historians will await you in the last room to answer any remaining questions you may have.

The museum was set-up in an important historical building of the city of Rouen: the Archepiscopal Palace where a posthumous retrial reestablished Joan of Arc’s innocence in 1456.

With its Roman and Gothic crypts, its tower dating from the 15th century, the archbishopric’s building, of grand architectural quality, is a Medieval edifice listed as a Historical Monument. Its restoration and the establishment of the museography required 18 months of construction and a global investment of 10.6 million euros by the Métropole Rouen Normandie.

Frédéric Sanchez, President of the Métropole Rouen Normandie, explains the reasons behind such a project: “Since the entire world associated Joan to Rouen, it was necessary to somehow repair this profound debt, to do her justice: so in 2012, to contribute to this effort, the Métropole of Rouen Normandie decided on the creation of a Historial devoted to the hero, under the initiative of Laurent Fabius.

Conceived on indisputable historical and literary bases, thanks to the work of a prestigious scientific committee who supported the project, L’Historial is guaranteed great success with an annual visitor rate estimated between 100 000 and 150 000 guests.”

Other sites linked to Joan of Arc in Rouen

Joan of Arc’s Dungeon-Tower
The dungeon located on Bouvreuil street is the last still visible remnant of the castle where Joan of Arc was held prisoner and tortured.

The Joan of Arc stake
On the Vieux-Marché square, next to the Joan of Arc Church, the large cross marks the spot of the stake and Joan’s statue leans on the church facing the area of her torment.

The Saint Jeanne d’Arc Church
Erected on the spot of Joan of Arc’s martyr, this church located on the Vieux-Marché square holds a dual function: it is both a church devoted to Saint Joan of Arc and a civil memorial to commemorate the hero. Recently built, this church however has glass windows dating from the Renaissance and its roof was designed in the shape of the fire's flammes.

Plane
Rouen is located a little under an hour and half from Paris and its airports Orly and Charles de Gaulle. Upon reservation, shuttles to Rouen are available from the different airports (information with the tourism office.)

Train
The city of Rouen has an SNCF station served by many trains coming from national destinations such as Paris, Le Havre, Marseille, Lyon, Lille or regional destinations like Le Havre, Vernon, Caen and Dieppe. The SNCF station is located in the city center, on the right bank, a few steps from hotels, restaurants, businesses, and the major touristic sites.
www.sncf.com

Car
From the South, Rouen is linked to Paris through the A13 highway (130km), slightly over one hour by car. The Rouen Metropolis is linked to Deauville, Honfleur, the Mont-Saint-Michel or Rennes and to Bretagne by the same highway.

From the West, the city is accessible from Le Havre, Fécamp or Etretat by highway A29 by going through Barentin.

From the North, Rouen is directly connected to England, Lille, Calais, Tours, Bordeaux, Amiens or Reims by the highway A28 and the Channel Tunnel.